Hello 2016: looking back and looking ahead

January 6, 2016

Did I miss the the Happy New Year gravy train? Despite being barely a week into 2016, I feel like I did. How quickly we move along these days– and what’s the rush, really? It seems as though it will be January for a while.

So let me indulge in a little reflection. As I type this, the rain is falling heavily for the first time in a long time here in Southern California. The looming gray has kept the day dim and further clouded my sense of adjustment back to our regular routine. It feels as though we were only just wandering through the alleys of Morocco’s medinas moments ago, and yet those visions and sounds seem so far away. Indeed, a blur.

2015 in review: confessions and observations

What a year. We traveled in 5 continents in 2015 (Utah, Japan, Ecuador, Spain, and Morocco), moved house, and settled into Pasadena life. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary. Aaron sank his teeth into year 2 of Ph.D. work, began seeing a handful of clients, and did lots of research (mindfulness, anyone?). I saw my tutoring business take off, my blog grew by a power of 10, and I ended the year feeling a desperate need for change. More on that later.

On the blog, I further explored minimalism and its implications on my daily life. To be honest, I feel as though I’ve exhausted the topic (perhaps the topic has exhausted me), but the movement seems to be roaring in its upward trend. Should I write more about it, I wonder. For simple living advocates, the most important aspect of simple living is actually choosing to live simply. We can discuss it, share it, teach it and preach it, but in the end it must be a vehicle towards something else. And that’s the thing only we ourselves can define (e.g., the life-changing magic of finding your purpose).

Don’t see in this the looming shadow of despair however. Simplicity Relished will go on as my little blog, only I hope to grow in the topics that I explore this year. When I pulled together my ebook on courage (7 Days of Courage: Finding Brave In Your Everyday Life), I realized that what I desperately needed was the strength, focus, fortitude and fearlessness to pursue what I believed mattered. Call it intentionality, call it courage– I needed more than simplicity in order to face my fears, send the lies back to hell and press on.

There is something to be said about perseverance when it comes to blogging. All the blogging tips in all the world can’t give a blog what it needs to survive: a purpose that inspires the blogger and serves an audience. That purpose has to be big enough to stay relevant through different seasons of life. Even if we make little adjustments here and there, a core that is strong enough will remain the same.

So here’s a little bit of real life truth. I’m expecting some changes this year. Despite my love of my students, I might be ending my foray into self-employment. I won’t go into the reasons here, but wrestling with my next professional steps has consumed me the past couple of months. Along with the shift includes a small possibility that Aaron and I will spend some time overseas. As options materialize, I will share them here.

What I do know is that, in the midst of this rocky, exhilarating and unpredictable decade we call our 20s, I need this blog. I need you as my reader, keeping me in this space where I can center myself again on what I truly care about. Thank you for being here.

My word for 2016 and a few little goals

I like the idea of having a word for the year. Despite it seeming more like a word of the moment, we can dedicate ourselves to an ideal or commitment for as long as it’s something we truly need. So my word is fortitude. I want the strength, perseverance, bravery, vision, and focus to move forward this year. Fortitude makes me think of a large ship crashing through the most threatening waves. It may rise and teeter and dip, but it continues forward, wave by wave. I want to be fearless that closing doors is okay. I want to step into something, step into it deeply, and say yes at crucial moments in the journey.

As far as setting goals, perhaps I don’t have any big ones yet. However this year shakes out, though, I want to find myself choosing to thrive. I want to inspire and to be inspired; to discover new corners of God’s word in which I can rest; and to increase my generosity to my community. Aaron and I are going to find ways to take better care of our bodies, hopefully together. We’ll be developing new recipes for home cooking, committing to more exercise and hopefully continuing to get enough sleep.

Coming to SR in 2016

I hope this year will bring nothing less than amazing content that you find helpful, interesting and encouraging. At the very least, I’ll be working on the following:

All the Spain and Morocco posts! I love writing about travel and have missed it since our summer trips.

Occasional lifestyle pieces: sometimes all these reflections and instructions can be a bit head-heavy. I’ll occasionally share a recipe, decor tip or fashion photos to lighten things up.

Posts on courage, social justice, generosity and community: things that keep me going. This is my decision to push the boundaries on simple living and explore its purpose a bit more explicitly.

Hey! I’d love to grab coffee with you. But for now…

Get my weekly letters and free ebook on courage.

I’ve been looking for inspirations on a 2016 goal and I love your idea of having a word for the year! I guess my word would be ‘focus’ since I’m only beginning to fully commit to my blog. Such a wonderful read! I really appreciate your thoughts, thank you!

“Focus”– I love that! Sometimes we’re just overwhelmed with options and interests. We aren’t able to do everything we are capable of, so we need to press in to just a few things a ta time. Best of luck!!

Oh Daisy — my friend! I’m so glad to know this blog will continue to thrive and be here whenever I want to be inspired by your wisdom, humility, eloquence and ability to minimize the big issues into something straight-forward and graspable.
I’m reading through this page today for the first time and it’s amazing how many of the same concerns have been on our minds these past few months. I could sense a change coming and I worried and wondered about what the next steps for me would be and I struggled with finding positivity in a world growing increasingly dark. The answer is, of course, you, and me, and all of these readers commenting below and blogging themselves and everyone doing anything to put even the smallest amount of positivity back out there, whether it’s meaningful and profound or if it’s beautiful or if it’s even silly and causes someone somewhere to smile.
I can’t believe you moved to Pasadena in 2015 which means we have only known each other since 2015 – how crazy is that? Time is a vehicle I may never be able to wrap my head around. But this year more than ever the vehicle I also need is fortitude. Wishing you all the best with all your endeavors and I look forward to sharing ideas and inspiration with you here, there and everywhere in 2016!
XO

Jess, it means so much to have you here! And it’s really hard to believe that we met for the first time not so long ago. What a journey we’ve been on, as bloggers and as friends, this past year. Can’t wait to experience more adventures together, whatever the world may bring!

You’ve upped your content game so much in the year I’ve been following you. I imagine there’s no where but up from here! I look forward to see what’s in store for 2016. Including creeping on all your travel photos. (;

I totally agree with you, Daisy! It’s so important that bloggers (and anyone pursuing something creative) have a motivations and purpose that can last through different life seasons, and that’s a hard thing to find! I’ve loved following along with your blog and am excited to see how it grows and how you grow as you take some big steps forward in your career, marriage, and plans for this next year. I’m excited to hear more about some of the things you’re dreaming about!

Thank you so much Lauren! So glad that blogging has brought us together– to share what’s on our hearts and those core things that we’re passionate about. I’m excited for what’s ahead for both of us, and I’m glad we get to support each other through it!

I totally get what you mean when you say you need this blog. It’s great to have a place to come to that’s all your own and know that you have readers that will hear your thoughts (whether they be your triumphs, excitement, or worries). I’m excited to follow along and see where 2016 takes you 🙂

2016 is going to be a great year, well I hope it will be a great year, if wishing it and thinking it would make it so then all would be good but unfortunately it takes more then thoughts and wishes to make it so

Oh I so enjoyed this post Daisy! Looking back on your year and looking forward! Fortitude is such a powerful word my friend and it’s something amazing to focus on! I love that it’s your focus! I also loved what you said about minimalism and simplicity, being vehicles for something else. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately (what my “something else” is exactly). I’m inspired that you will be talking about other things that come along with that – strength, courage, community. I can’t wait to see what you write and create this year! You know I’m looking forward to your Spain & Morocco posts! Seriously so excited for what’s to come!! 🙂

Thank you so, so much Gina! It’s been incredible to have your support and friendship (and to be inspired by your work) this past year– thank you for being a part of the blogging world! 🙂 And I hope as the year progresses you’ll discover that “something else” to which you feel called. I look forward to seeing it in your blog posts too!

Your words are so encouraging, Jill– I am so grateful for that! And the word “come” is so powerful… it reflects the invitation we were all extended to be in the presence of God! By the way, is your blog public? I’d love to check it out!

Fortitude…I love it! That’s a new one I’ve yet to hear 🙂 I’m so excited for your 2016 and I really do hope you end up creating a product, I think you have such a talent for helping others think about life and generosity in a unique way that really draws us all in Daisy! I am confident that any product you create would help to make the world a better place for sure!

SR is definitely a gem from 2015 – so glad I found this space and can’t wait to see how it transforms this year!

In 2016 I’m hoping to help busy, broke and creatively challenged women (and men too, if they’re into it) with memory keeping. It’s a passion of mine and I’m working hard on figuring out the best way to help others with it while not underselling myself. I’d love to put together an e-course or e-guide to help those who are interested in it – but overwhelmed by it – develop a memory keeping habit.

My OLW for 2016 is GAINZ. Mostly I’m hoping to make major gym gainz this year, but I’m also hoping to make creative and financial gainz this year!

Thank you so much, Kelsey, that is really encouraging. And I love your word– GAINZ– haha it makes me smile! And your memory keeping idea is fascinating; I hope you go after it! I’ve no idea where to begin with a ecourses or webinars but I am looking into them. If I come up with anything substantive, I’d be happy to share!

Such a lovely post to end the year and start another, Daisy! You seriously find the most beautiful words and make the the beautiful sentences! I look forward to whatever SR has in store for the new year and to hearing about the changes in your life!

This is a fantastic post Daisy! I was right there nodding my head along with everything you said! Fortitude is such a great word for 2016. I’m still deciding between a few – but I think balance may be the key for me. Happy New Year! I hope its absolutely fabulous! Xx

Aw thank you Carly! Cheers to your 2016 as well– that you would experience balance. So glad we’ve connected.

Hi! I’m Daisy.

Welcome to Simplicity Relished, where I share about my passion for adventure, courageous living, and building a flourishing world. I live a post-minimalist lifestyle informed by vision and conviction, and invite you to do the same.
Let's be friends.